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6. With regards to training, many refugees attend the local government school at Itang, which accepts students on an equal basis, as does the highschool at Gambela. Education is free, although UNHCR provides refugees' books, pencils etc. The UNHCR have opened up a vocational training school at Itang and also sponsor students for Addis Ababa University. Due to the enormous costs of education outside Ethiopia, the UNHCR would rather sponsor students for training within the country, although they do sponsor people for resettlement in other countries, eg. Canada.
Assistance Programmes
7.
Generally speaking, UNHCR's programmes in Ethiopia are run effectively. There is no evidence to suggest that much assistance is used for eg. soldiers rations. According to Mr Fell, it is difficult for the Ethiopian Government to take adequate steps to build up local expertise, so reducing the dependency on UNHCR. The Government does what it can by providing free land, water, schools etc, but, as explained above, lack the financial resources to reduce their dependency on UNHCR. The Government was forced to ask for UNHCR assistance in view of the enormous number of people involved.
Coordination/Cooperation
Mr Fell is satisfied that there is no duplication of activities, although there is close liaison with ERCS, who run the hospital at Itang and with WFP, who provide basic food requirements. There is an UNHCR/RRC Coordinating Office in Addis Ababa funded by UNHCR, but staffed by RRC.
Information/Disaster Preparedness
9. It is difficult to say how good or otherwise are UNHCR's statistics. But we assume that they are adequate given UNHCR's accurate assessment of food and other requirements for thos in Gambela and Itang, as well as Harerge.
10. UNHCR have a sub-office in Gambela and Itang who report to their Addis Ababa Office any political or security activities in the region.
11. The UNHCR forecast trends but, as explained above, do not conduct their programmes on this basis. The buffer stock has usually proved adequate for meeting extra demands.
Legal Protection
12. The UNHCR have made it clear to the Ethiopian Government that they run their programmes with the following conditions : (a) accessibility; (b) registration of all beneficiaries ; and (c) protection of refugees by the Government. The UNHCR will not operate otherwise, and are content that the Government generally respect these conditions.
Physical Security for Refugees
13. Occasionally, for security reasons, refugees have had to be moved inland from areas near the Sudan border, but in general they are effectively protected.
/Nature of Refugee Camps
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